Post for loose-leaf binders



R. L. ESSON POST FOR LOOSE LEAF-BINDERS Deco 9 Filed Aug. 28, 1920 I, I l w Patented Dec. 9, i924.

UNITE!) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

POST FOR LOOSE-LEAF BINDEES.

Application led August 28, 1920. Serial .'No. 406,732.

To r/.ZZ coito/ml it may concern:

Be it known that L ROBERT Lrennrwoon EssoN. a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Johannesburg, Transvaal Province, Union of South Africa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Posts for Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to posts for loose leaf binders, loose leaf ledgers and the like.

Extensible posts or pillars as now con* structed for loose leaf binders. et cetera, are made of cylindrical shape and the posts are built up as required of the requisite number of sections or parts` screwed or otherwise connected together. On the other hand the adjustable thongs, straps, ribbons or bands provided in loose leaf ledgers, et cetera, to engage with the binding margin of the sheets are usuallv of substantially rectangular shape. To allow sheets used with such binders to be placed on the ordinary cylindrical posts, it has been the practice to provide in the binding margin of the sheets two or more keV-hole slots or perforations to engage with. the cylindrical posts, and with two or more T or similarly shaped slots for engaging with the adjustable thongs, et cetera, of loose leaf ledgers, et cetera.

Now the primary object of the present invention is to construct a sectional post in such a` way that the sheets need only be constructed with the marginal slots or perforations necessary for engaging with the adjustable thongs, and the ordinary keyhole slots dispensed with. This allows the sheets to be removed from a thong. et cetera. ledger or binder and placed on the post binder, or vice versa, so that the sheets may be said to be interchangeable with onlv one form of marginal slots. It will be under-.- stood that the cost of providing one of the two sets of perforations or slots is saved and that, consequent upon the sheets being provided with only one set of slots, the sheets are stronger along the binding man gin.

Certain features of this invention` in particular the means for constructing the sec tions, could be adopted in the construction of a sectional post of cylindrical, oval or other like shape.

The invention will be fullv explained in connection with the accon'ipanying drawings, wherein various forms of the inven# tion are illustrated.

In the drawings,

l is a front elevation of a portion ol' a built up or extensible post comprising u lowermost section, an intermediate section and a top section.

Fig. 2 is a-plan view of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation on line m, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional front elevation similar to Fig. l of another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a plan of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation on line jy-?/, of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a further form, two intermediate sections and the top and bottom sections beine shown.

Fig. 7a is a left end elevation of one ol the sections (34) shown in Fig. 7, removed.

Fig. 7b is a plan of the section shown in Fig. 7a.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation illustrating anA other modification, and representing two intermediate sections.

Fig. 9 is a plan of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of another form, illustrating two intermediate sec tions, and

Fig. l1 is a plan of Fig. lO.

Referring more particularly to the construction represented in F igs. l to 3, the extensible or adjustable sectional post or pillar comprises a lowermost section l, which will be rigidly tiXed to the cover, (not shown) of the binder, ledger, et cetera, or to a member or bar 2. attached preferably to the lower or bottom cover (not shown) of the binder, et cetera-by providing it at the bottom at opposite sides with projecting pieces 2a, which pass through the bar 2 and are bent oven-and any requisite number of intermediate sections 3 and a top sect-ion or cap 4. The number of sections will depend on the ag gregate thickness of leaves which are to be bound or held in the binder. ledger, et cetera. The bottom section l and all the intermediatesections 3. as shown. each consist of three parts, that is to say a casing,

llli

body or hollow main aart 5, a solid U- shaped part G9 tilted in one end ot thehollow part 5 With. the end parts i, t5, project'- ing bevond the one end oit" said casing 5, and a spring retainingl piece attached to the casing and projecting beyond 'the end ot the casing and between the projecting parts 7, S. The rivet or the iile 10, which .tires thou-shaped part 6, maj." also be nsed as the means for iixing the springl i); and the latter, as shown, be piaced in a recess in the side ot the U-shaped part 6. The casing may be conveniently made from a piece of tubing and bent to the desired substantially rectangulail or oblong shape in ciosy section7 with the edges roundedT as indient l at 11. Obviously the casing may be triade from a piece ot sheet- :metal bent to the required shape, in which event the rivet 10 may be use'd as thenieans for securing the casing at the joint.

The U-shaped part is positioned inside the casing so that a space or recess is provided in the casing extending from the inner end of the U-sha-ped piece to the other end of the casing which is open-ended- On the spring a pin or projection 12 is formed or fixed and in the casingl a hole 1?) is provided With which the pin or projection 12 on the spring ot the adjoining section is caused to engage, when the sections are as sembled. This engagement prevents disconnection of the sections until the pin or proection 12 is forced ont oit the hole 13, which can be effected by any pointed instrument or article.

In assembling the sections the open end ot the casing 5 of the next upper' section is projected or passed over the projecting parts 7. 8, ot the iii-shaped piece 6. together with the spring 9 lying between them until the pin or projection 12 on the spring; drops into engagement with the hole 13. The top section or cover 4, shown. consists merely oi a piece of tube 5. flattened to suhstantiall)v rect-angular shape and providing the space to receive the projecting parts 7, 8 and spr-ing 9, and having the hole 13 tor the pin or projection 12 on the spring to engage in. lit may be closed at the top it dc- Sired. Each of the posts or pillars may be built up by using the requisite number of the intermediate sections thon piacino the cap or top section in position and then a i y* the top cover over the posts and fixing it in the manne-r usual with post binders. The retaining means ttor the top cover will enwith the upper ends ot the sectional posts in the ordinarjT Wav.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 4; to 6. each section. ont the post consists of they casing' or main part 14e, which can also be, coiis'fenientljA7 constreted ont of a piece of itahle metal tfnbing; a. spring piece 1o. which yat vone end is riveted to the main part 1li, and projects for a suitable distance be vond oneI end thereof; and two pins or projections 16, which extend beyond the end oil' the main part 111, at the opposite end to the spring 15, and at the sides of said main part. The two pins or projections 16, may be parts of av U-shaped piece 1T, part of which is placed in the main part 1&1, so that the pins or ends 16 project for the desired distance beyond the end ot the casing and are adapted to engage with the holes 16a provided in the sidesv ot the next adjoining section, to connect the sections. These pins or projections 16 may be retained in position by press` ing` the tube together so that the pins 16 are gripped at the sides ot the casing 111; and the cross bar 18 ot the U-sha-ped piece 17 is so positioned. that When the tube is pressed togetlier or flattened, a` rib, ridge or projection 19 is toi-med between th-e raised vertical sides or edges 20, of the casing 14. This rib.y ridge or projection 19 serves as the part which the end ot the spring 15 of the adj oining section engages, to connect the sections oi'" the post. The outer end of the spring 15 ot each section is curved, bent or shaped, as indicated at to engage and more or less tit the rib or projection 19. The rib or proj ection 19 majY be made flat at the top, Where the spring 15 engages With it, as indicated at 2Q, to ensure a better engagement. The enn 1eeinrmt between the spring 15 and the rib 19 pre its the accidental disengagement oit the sections of the post.

The top section or cap 24 comprises the casino' 'ifi-.a and the U-shaped part 17 providing the projecting pins 16. As shown in 4h the holes 1a in the easing 14a may be closed at the top. as indicated at 25.

The rib 1,9 may be formed on the casing 14tin. an)7 other preferred manner or the spring 15 may be instructed to engage in a hole or recess.. or with anyv other suitablv shaped projection on the casing.

In the case ot the bottom section or thai one Wh ich is tired to the back or cover ot the binder7 ledger. et cetera, or a part thereof` the projecting pins 16 as sho-Wn in Fig. 4. ma;T be utilized as the means for securing it in position on the back cover. The pins can pass through holes 2? in the haelt or cover or part thereo't. and, shown` be riveted thereto on the underside.

Referring to the construction shown iu Fig. 7. cach section et the post comprises the generallj7 flat member 2G or 26"'. having a hole 27 extending down both vertical. edges: which may as shown he made from flat piece ot metal plate bent round to torni the holes 27. f

The loivermost section i kay be constructed With projecting pieces Q8 'for vsecuring it to the cover or a part thereof. The bottom section 29 is constructed in the one side at the top with a recess or groove 30, vintersecting the vertical hole 31 rdown the one edge, which recess o-r groove leaves or provides a lug or projection 32 at or near the top ot said side. The section 29 is also cut away at the top of the other side so that the top ot the hole 33 provided down this edge is approximately on a level with the bottom ot the recess or groove 3() in the opposite edge.

The adjoining section 34, which is adapted to engage with said lowermost section 29, is provided with a pin or projecting` piece at the bottom of the one side. This pin 35 will be tightly titted into and secured in the hole 36 `formed down the edge ot said side, and it is adapted to iit into the top of the hole 33 provided at the eut-away side of the bottom section. At the bottom of the other side of the adjoining section 34, a recess or groove 37 is formed which leaves or provides a lug or projection 38, like the lug` or projection 32 on the top oit the bottom section 29, the bottom of the section 34 overlapping or extending below the top of the adjoining section 29. beneath it. The pin 35 which tits into the hole 33 in the one side of the bottom section 29 serves as a hinge about which the adjoining section 34 can be turned to place the bottom lug or projection 3S thereof in engagement with the recess or groove 30 in the top of one side ot the bottom section 29. The adjoining section 34 at the top is constructed the same as the top of the bottom section 29 but the section 34 is turned so that its right and left sides are in reversed relation. The lug 39 at the top of said adjoining section 34 is placed at the top of that side or edge in which the pivot or hinge pin 35 is provided. and diagonally opposite the bottom lunr 38.

Consequent upon this construction the hinge pin of each succeeding section is located at opposite sides of the built-up post. Any Jfurther intermediate sections 40 may be identical with section 34.

The cap 41. as shown, is constructed at the bottom with the hinge pin 42 on the one side and the lug 43 and recess 44 at the bottom on the other side and made iiat at the top. The dotted lines indicate the cap turned about its hinge pin to disengage it 'from the adjoining section.

The lugs are held in the grooves by the sheets, when placed on the posts, precluding the movement of the sections relative to each other.

Referring to that form of the invention shown in Figs. S and f), each of the sections is shown made of a. tubular piece 45 pressed into substantially rectangular form. In one end of the tube 45 is arranged an intermediate piece 46, which extends at its one end inwardly to approximately the centre of the length of the flattened tube, as indicated at 47, and projects therefrom at its other end, as indicated at 48. This projecting part 48 is of hook shape or 'formed with a recess 49 which is adapted to pass under and engage a pin or the like 50 iixed in the recess 'termed by the flattened sides of the tube above the centre piece in the next adjoining section. The projecting part 48 is rounded otl on the back to enable it to be inserted in the recess 'formed in the upper end ot the casing or flattened tube 45 in assembling the sections. As in the previous construction the lowest section is iiXed to the base member attached to one cover of the binder` and does not require the hookshaped projection.

ln the top edge of each section near one side a slight recess or groove 5l is formed which allows Jfor the requisite radial movement of the section in putting it into position.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. l0 and 11, the connecting means between adjoining sections consists of Hat pieces or plates 52, 53, slightly less than halt the width ot the section, one otl which. 52, projects from one end of the casing and the other 53, trom the other end and at the opposite side. In this construction the friction between the projecting pieces or plates 52, and the holes or recesses 54, 55, in the casing serves 'for keeping the parts together. The casing can conveniently con-- sist, as in the previous construction, of a piece of flattened tubing, with the iiat pieces or plates 52. 53, secured by pressing the sides of the tubular piece around the inner ends of said flat pieces or plates 52, 53, and riveting the same in position, as indicated at 56.

The invention can be adopted in the con.- struction of a non-extensible post by making such posts ot substantially rectangular, oval. elliptical or other similar shape.

The means described for connecting togetl'ier the sections of a built-up post can be adapted to the sections of an oval, round, square or other post ot any preferred shape.

What l claim as my invention. and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A rigid built-up post for loose leaf binders and the like. made up ol separable sections each of which sections is ot a greater dimension in one direction than in the other direction in transverse section, the sections being adapted to engage with each other, and means tor retaining the sections in their engaging positions, as set forth.

2. A rigid built-up post 'tor loose leaf binders and the like made up ot separable sections each of which sections is of a greater dimension in one direction than the maximum dimension in the other direction in transverse section, including a bottom section having means for securing it to one of the binder Covers, an intermediate Sec- In testimony whereof I have signed my tion, and a top section, al1 oi' said sections name to this specification in the presence incorporating ineens for engaging each of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

other, said latter means comprising recesses .RGBERT LYGERTVOOD ESSON. and projections on lalternate Sides of the `Witnesses:

sections and hinges on the other alternate GHAS. OVENDALE,

sides of the sections, as set forth. l ARTHUR THOMPSON. 

